ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY OF HEART-TUTORIALS
Electrical Activity and EKG
The Cardiac Action Potential Has a Prolonged Refractory Period
- Heart action potential has a prolonged spike (depolarized)
- Membrane is refractory for a long time
- This prevents summation and gives the heart time to fill
All Parts of the Heart Beat Spontaneously
- Heart muscle does not require stimulation by a nerve
- Nerves usually inhibit the heart beat; cutting the nerves -> heart speeds up
- Beat originates as a depolarization in the heart muscle cell itself (self stimulation)
- All parts of the heart can beat spontaneously